Activists Remember Murdered Astoria Mom

Demanding better protection for victims of domestic abuse, leaders and members of several womens' organizations gathered in front of Crescent Chemists at 24-12 34th Avenue yesterday, the site where a young mother was shot to death by her ex-boyfriend earlier this month.

Giummia Villa, 32, was working in the store on February 10th when her ex and the father of her two sons, Alex Figueroa, entered with a bouquet of carnations and sunflowers. A conversation between the two quickly erupted into an argument, however, and that's when witnesses say Figueroa pulled out a gun and shot Villa in the head at point-blank range. Figueroa then ran to his apartment on 36th Avenue, composed a letter of confession and committed suicide.

Villa had previously gotten two orders of protection against Figueroa from Family Court, but ralliers told NY1 that orders of protection, like the ones Villa filed, aren't doing enough. They say their demonstration is to remember victims like her and demand better protection against violent men to prevent other women from being hurt or killed.